The idea of seeing a therapist online might have seemed strange before 2020. But today, online therapy platforms are increasingly being used to help therapists address a spike in mental health care needs. What’s more, a number of online therapy platforms accept insurance, although people should check their coverage with their provider before signing up.<\/p>
According to the American Psychological Association<\/a>, psychologists saw 84% more patients with anxiety disorders and 72% more patients with depressive disorders in October 2021 than before the pandemic \u2014 with most psychologists treating patients virtually. <\/p> But – let’s face it – therapy, even online, can be expensive. Even though there are a variety of online therapy platforms to help address this need, none of them will be of any use if you can\u2019t afford to pay for them.<\/p> Online therapy is a remote mental health service that takes place via video or phone calls, texting, or live chat. Companies typically connect a person with a therapist when they sign up for the service.<\/p> Online therapy is an especially popular option nowadays. It allows people to have sessions with fully licensed therapists using smartphone apps or their computers instead of going to an office. It is available from large platforms that specialize in online services, such as Talkspace or BetterHelp, and from individual therapy practices.<\/p> For people who have been considering therapy but are intimidated or overwhelmed by the thought of office visits or in-person care, online therapy might be the best way to get care.<\/p> Online therapy may be less expensive than traditional, in-person therapy. However, it is always important to check whether a company takes insurance and to contact the insurance provider to ensure that it will cover the therapy a person requires.<\/p> Not all online platforms take insurance, but most do. Many therapists who offer online sessions also take insurance.<\/p> As a rule, if you have insurance, you can likely find an online therapy service that will take your plan. However, the exact coverage for online therapy available to you depends on:<\/p> Teladoc is a leader in the telehealth space, offering a variety of services, including primary and pediatric care, dermatology, nutrition, sexual health and mental health services. The company offers appointments with the top 5% of medical professionals in the world and has a 90% satisfaction rate, according to its website. <\/p> All health care and mental health providers on the platform are board-certified or licensed, and users are matched with providers licensed to practice in the state in which the patient resides.<\/p> Teladoc Therapy offers virtual appointments with therapists, psychologists and psychiatrists seven days a week. Users can set up an account and easily find treatment for a variety of conditions, including anxiety, depression and PTSD. Couples therapy and anger management classes are also available. <\/p> For those people looking for psychiatric services, Teladoc Therapy offers medication management as well.<\/p> Pros<\/strong><\/p> Cons<\/strong><\/p> Brightside only offers video therapy sessions. If you choose a plan that includes therapy, you will have 45-minute sessions every week. Every Brightside therapist uses a CBT approach to therapy, which has been demonstrated as an effective treatment for issues like depression, anxiety, substance use, and eating disorders, according to the American Psychological Association. <\/p> You can schedule your therapy appointments at times that work for both you and your therapist, and you can contact them at any time between appointments through the unlimited messaging feature. <\/p> If you use insurance to pay for your Brightside membership, your exact cost will depend on your individual plan. To confirm the exact amounts you\u2019ll be expected to pay, you should contact your insurance provider to confirm your benefits or use the Brightside insurance checker online.<\/p> If you don\u2019t use health insurance, Brightside costs between $95 and $349 per month, depending on the plan. You can pay with Visa and Mastercard credit cards or FSA or HSA dollars. Brightside will charge you monthly from the date you activate your plan. Here are the three Brightside plan options:<\/p> Pros<\/strong><\/p> Cons<\/strong><\/p> Talkiatry is an online psychiatry platform that helps adolescents and adults find a psychiatrist for virtual visits and offers insurance. It connects people with licensed psychiatrists in their home state to help them get the mental health treatment that best suits their needs.<\/p> To schedule an appointment, you can go to the company\u2019s website, Talkiatry.com<\/a>, and hit the \u201cget started\u201d button. From there, you\u2019ll get a more thorough explanation of what Talkiatry is and what it isn\u2019t\u2014it\u2019s not a talk therapy platform, for example\u2014but psychiatrists can work with you to help you better understand your symptoms, create a treatment plan, prescribe medication and work with you on medication management.<\/p> You\u2019ll then do a quick assessment so Talkiatry can match you with a psychiatrist that fits your needs, and from there you\u2019ll fill out insurance information and set up an appointment. It\u2019s worth noting that the Talkiatry website isn\u2019t the only way to book an appointment: you can book through the medical booking platform Zocdoc, and they can verify that your insurance was accepted by Talkiatry.<\/p> After setting up an appointment, you\u2019ll be matched with a psychiatrist. In your first session, you\u2019ll go over your symptoms with your doctor, who will work with you to come up with a treatment plan, which may include medication. From there, you\u2019ll check in with your clinician about every four weeks or so, but you can see them more or less frequently depending on your individual situation. <\/p> You can also message them in between visits via Healow, an app used by many medical providers to communicate with their patients.<\/p> Cons<\/strong><\/p> MDLive is a comprehensive online medical platform that connects users with both mental health care professionals and nonemergency medical care via telehealth for issues like migraines, pinkeyes, and sinus infections. The platform also has psychiatrists on its platform, meaning users can get a prescription if advised as part of a treatment plan. <\/p> MDLive offers sessions by both phone and live video chat. This includes counseling and medication services. It charges $108 for a counseling session. For medication management, it charges $284 for the first visit with a psychiatrist and $108 for follow-up appointments. Insurance will lower the cost of therapy, but specific pricing depends on your insurance.<\/p> MDLive accepts most insurance plans, including Cigna, Humana, Blue Cross Blue Shield, and Aetna. MDLive accepts some Medicare and Medicaid plans, and coverage varies by state. To find out whether it accepts your insurance, you can register for a free account and input your insurance information.<\/p> MDLive is the best option for finding specialized mental health support that accepts insurance.<\/p> Pros<\/strong><\/p> Cons<\/strong><\/p> Talkspace is an online therapy website and app that connects you to licensed therapists based on their expertise. Licensed therapists from across the country offer support for individuals, couples and teens, covering a range of mental health needs, including depression, anxiety and stress, parenting, trauma and grief, substance abuse, LGBTQIA+ specific topics, eating disorders and more.<\/p> The Talkspace algorithm matches you with a provider based on your needs and preferences, as well as therapist availability. After matching with a provider, you can view information about their professional experience, what types of therapy they specialize in and more.<\/p> Depending on your plan, you\u2019ll have access to asynchronous messaging with your therapist including video, text and audio messages, as well as live sessions (if you opt for a plan that includes them). If you\u2019d like to try a different provider at any point, you\u2019re able to do so, but if you\u2019re satisfied with your therapist, you may continue to work with them exclusively.<\/p> The provider you work with will be from your state of residence and all communication between you and your provider in your therapy chat room will be private and fully encrypted, according to the company.<\/p> Pros<\/strong><\/p> Cons<\/strong><\/p> LiveHealth Online provides online therapy with insurance via live video sessions with a licensed therapist or a psychiatrist. You can sign up on your smartphone, tablet, or computer. Once registered, you\u2019ll be able to choose from a list of therapists and doctors who are licensed in your state and schedule an appointment. It\u2019s free to sign up, and there are no monthly subscription fees.<\/p> Without insurance, an initial video session with a LiveHealth Online psychiatrist is $175, with follow-up visits costing $75 each. Video sessions with online therapists are $80 each, and video sessions with online psychologists are $95 each. Insurance will lower the cost of therapy, but specific pricing depends on your insurance.<\/p> LiveHealth Online\u2019s video sessions are covered by several insurance plans. These include Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield, Anthem Blue Cross, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Georgia, Empire Blue Cross, and Empire Blue Cross Blue Shield health plans. Other plans may cover some of the cost but aren\u2019t considered in-network, according to LiveHealth Online<\/a>. This will make them more expensive.<\/p> LiveHealth accepts some Medicare and Medicaid plans. Coverage may vary by state. You can confirm your coverage while signing up on the LiveHealth website. You can check if your insurance plan is in-network and how much you would pay for a visit on the pricing page<\/a>.<\/p> Pros<\/strong><\/p> Cons<\/strong><\/p> The best way to find out if online therapy takes a person\u2019s insurance is to visit the telehealth<\/a> service\u2019s website. Many services have pages dedicated to insurance questions. A good place to check is a company\u2019s frequently asked questions page. However, many companies do not list all the insurance companies they accept.<\/p> If a telehealth service does not list a person\u2019s insurance, it is always worth contacting the insurance company directly to check whether it will cover all or part of the cost of using a service. Insurance companies may also be able to provide information about in-network therapists, psychologists, or psychiatrists that people can contact directly.<\/p>What is online therapy?<\/strong><\/span><\/h2>
Do online therapy services take insurance?<\/strong><\/h2>
Top online therapy platforms with insurance<\/strong><\/span><\/h2>
Teladoc Health<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>
Brightside<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>
Therapy<\/strong><\/h4>
Psychiatry<\/strong><\/h4>
Therapy and Psychiatry<\/strong><\/h4>
Talkiatry<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>
Pros<\/strong><\/span><\/h5>
MDLive<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>
Talkspace<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>
LiveHealth Online<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>
How to find out if online therapy takes insurance<\/strong><\/h2>
Recommended Articles <\/strong><\/span><\/h2>
References<\/strong><\/span><\/h2>